The Hearts of Dragons (Closed for DarkWarrioress)

[Lucian_Devine]

"God Dammit!"

Lucian swore loudly as he ran through the woods. He'd been crazy to run in here, but he'd had few other options. He ran now for his life and his freedom, running from men whom had been allies only days ago.

Tree branches swatted and whipped at him, but didn't get any farther than his cloak or his armor.

The sounds of pursuit were loud in the woods. For many men were indeed chasing after the lieutenant turned traitor.

When Lucian finally reached a broad clearing, one where he could make use of his own skill and mobility, he stopped, trying to force his tired body to be calm, force his mind to think past what failure would mean.

Not a single minute after he stopped, Lucian's pursuers crashed into the clearing. They looked confidant, and for good reason, they stood ten strong against one man.

"What do you hope to accomplish Lucian? You stand alone against us, with no possible chance of success. Give up now, and you might be lucky enough to be sacrificed to one of the demons."

Lucian didn't say a word, nor did he make a move as the ten men made to surround him. From under the cowl of the cloak, eyes as blue as the sea stared hard at them, sizing up each of them. Yes, he recognized them all, had trained with them, fought with them, and killed with them. Already, Lucian could see in his mind, the weaknesses of each. Even surrounded as he was, he wouldn't give up and wouldn't go down. No, Lucian knew in his heart that he had played a big role in the summoning of the demons, and now he would do everything in his power to stop them.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Zarya would spend most of her waking moments, even her sleeping ones, in the forest if she could. It was where she felt most at ease. Not even her home, back in the village felt as comfortable. The comfortable weight of her shield and sword strapped to her back as she patrolled was comforting. There was also the need to escape her mother’s constant harping about breeding. Zarya knew how old she was. There was little need for her mother’s constant reminders. Yes, she was the eldest, but there was her sister, Aella and her sister Kai as well. Both of them were of breeding age. Let them do it. There wasn’t a male in the village that had caught her eye let alone her heart. Besides, even if there were, carrying a child meant she couldn’t patrol the forests until sometime after the babe was born and Zarya , at this time, found that idea, appalling.

Zarya stopped to shift her breastplate slightly and felt…. something. There wasn’t anything tangible but.. something was happening in the forest. Somewhere. There was this…. This feeling of a disturbance, slight though it might feel like. Even the animals and birds felt it. Still, she hadn’t found anything yet and simply kept walking with her thoughts.

This morning she had had an argument with her mother as they broke their fast. Her mother wanted her to go over a list of suitors she had picked out for Zarya. It was all Zarya could do to swallow down her breakfast without getting into a huge fight with her mother and queen. She very much knew that as her queen, her mother could order her to take a mate. Zarya also knew that her mother would only use that as a last resort and since she had two other sisters, she felt pretty safe. Instead, Zarya made an excuse to leave the table based on her morning patrol. As she left the table, a glance over her shoulder showed her mother frowning and tapping her fingertips on the table. Not exactly a happy or good sign. However, Zarya was just happy to escape.

In her room, she dressed quickly and donned her armor. Her long dark tresses, she quickly braided and wound about her head. Her weapons stood, at the ready, by the door. Quickly donning her sandals, she armed herself with her sword and shield. She thought about taking her bow and arrows and decided for this patrol, she’d leave them behind. Quickly Zarya left her room and headed out, hoping that she would not run into her sisters or her mother yet again. Enough was enough for today. Zarya needed some peace!

Given her frustration with her family that morning, Zarya went further out than she usually did when she patrolled. The deeper she went into the forest, not only did it get darker, it got quieter. This normally didn’t bother but there was something…. disturbing going on in her forest. Now, if only she could find it. Her green eyes swept through the forest in front of her. Her ears were finely attuned to the slightest noise. Her hands were ready to reach over her shoulder and withdraw her shield and sword if need be. Her sandalled feet made little to no sound on the forest floor as she went. Something was bound to happen. Sooner or later. Or maybe she just had an overly active imagination this morning.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Ten men closed around Lucian as he watched, his deep blue gaze studying each of the 5 in front of him. He didn't need to look to see where the others were exactly, he knew from training how they would be positioned. He knew that he was surrounded, and that they would close in on him until he or one of them attacked, and then the test of skill versus numbers would begin.

And so Lucian waited, his cloak draped around his sturdy six-foot form. His enemies stepped to fifteen feet, and he waited, ten feet, he waited still, shifting his stance to place his right foot in front, placing his right hand on the hilt of the katana strapped to his waist.

The sight of that stance was enough to cause more than one of the men to look around him, once again double checking their numbers. They had him in that, but all knew that he was not one to be taken lightly. Each had seen him in action, and any would gladly choose another of their fellows to be in his place, with Lucian at their side.

As Lucian watched, the leader of the ten stepped to five feet, brandishing two scimitars. In Lucian's mind, he called forth the maneuver he would use, and with a soft whisper of the words "Mithril Tornado." He took a step forward, unsheathing the katana in the time it took most men to blink. The sun glinted brightly off the blade, the bluish color of the mithril it was crafted from forcing a few to squint their eyes. Moments after that step, the blade lashed out, striking once, twice, and thrice, before two of the targets could even react. The leader had his blades at the ready, and had moved them to block the strike, but the better quality of the katana shattered both blades to pieces. The man on either side of him went down with a cry of pain, deep gashes in their stomachs, which now spilled their life-blood on the ground.

With a step as quick as lightning, Lucian skipped around the stunned man, moving himself out of being surrounded, and putting all either of his pursuers in front of him. His blue gaze never wavered as he watched the uncertainty fill their eyes. A crack of a smile came to his face as he acted once more before them. "Pouncing Charge." He spoke softly, this time lunging at the men on the far right of the group. Only three men were within range, but it mattered not. Blades dipped down, hungry for his blood, but three bastard swords missed...none of which would get a second chance. Again the katana flashed in the sun light, this time swinging four times, once at each of the men on the side, and twice at the man in the middle. Three men fell dead as the last five charged, screaming their rage.

The katana that had been so happy to strike, now turned to defense. The master that wielded it lifted to block an overhead strike, turned it to the side to block another, side-stepped two more, and spun to his right to dodge the last. It was clear then, to all but the man who'd already known, that it was the five who were doomed, not the one. All five turned to the man who was now behind them, though the leader of them turned to flee. The four turned to look at him, and Lucian struck again. With a step to his right, putting all four within range, he spoke once more. "Adamantine Hurricane." He then spun, exactly as he'd done with his first volley against the three, this time striking not once against the four, but twice. The first spin knocked aside, or shattered the weapons meant to protect them, and the second spin struck the same fatal horizontal strike into all of their stomachs. Even then Lucian wasn't done. In the time it took the four men to fall, he turned to the fleeing man. "Lightning Throw!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.

In a move that others would have thought crazy, He lifted the glinting katana over his shoulder, a move that would have overbalanced many men. Then, with a motion like one would throw a ninja star or throwing dagger, he tossed the katana at the back of the fleeing man. The blade flew straight and true, even as the man made dead on for the trees. One last death cry sounded, as the blade stuck fully in the man's back.

Lucian took a slow breath then, and moved to retrieve his blade.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She stopped. Froze in her footsteps as she “listened”. Then she took off at a run. Her body slapped against the foliage as she went. Her eyes scanned the forest around her and still she saw nothing. Running around a bend in the forest, she slowed her motion. She saw a man going to retrieve his blade from the back of another. Softly, almost silently, she drew her blade from her back and took up her shield as well. She moved on silent feet until the tip of her blade pointed against his back.

“Who are you, what happened here and why are you in my forest?”

Her voice was soft but menacing with a low growl.

“And be very careful when you straighten up. I will have no issue with running you through if you decide to become a threat.”

Her eyes took in the sight before her. Men littered the forest floor and their blood ran into the ground, which greedily soaked it up. Again, she wondered This man killed all these men on his own? Who was he and why was he here?

She was not an unseasoned warrior. Blood had been shed, her own included. Her eyes turned back to her captive. He was fit. A warrior in his own right, was her guess. Oh, how she could hear her own mother, the Queen, in her head right now. Zarya almost rolled her eyes at the thought. Giving her head a slight shake, her attention went back to the man at the end of her sword. She nudged him with the tip. Not much, just enough for him to realize she was serious. Not enough to draw blood.

“I will not ask you again, Warrior.”

And she waited. Impatiently.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Thinking that all enemies had been vanquished, Lucian did not notice the threat behind him until he heard the voice. In fact he didn't even feel the tip of her sword against his back at first. The voice came just as he'd reached for his blade, and as such he'd been bent over and froze in the process of it. The voice was soft and female, but with a low and menacing growl that told him that she would not hesitate to follow through on her threat. As such, he heeded it, lifting his right hand slowly from his weapon first before lifting his left hand next and finally straightening his back without turning around.

"My name is Lucian. These men chased me into this clearing from...that direction." Lucian pointed in the direction he'd come from before continuing. "If this is your forest you can surely follow our trail back to where it enters the forest from there. I stopped here to hold my ground. Once I got here, they attacked me, and I defended myself."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

As the man drew away from his sword and lifted them to show he meant no harm, the pressure on his back eased even though the tip did not.

"My name is Lucian. These men chased me into this clearing from...that direction." Lucian pointed in the direction he'd come from before continuing. "If this is your forest you can surely follow our trail back to where it enters the forest from there. I stopped here to hold my ground. Once I got here, they attacked me, and I defended myself."

“Be assured, a patrol will be sent out to do so as well as bury these dead men. You will accompany me now back to our Queen and she will decide what to do about you, Lucian.”

At her words, the sword tip was removed from his back and sheathed along with her shield.

“You may retrieve your weapon, Warrior and accompany me back to our village.”

Zarya waited only long enough for this Lucian to take up his sword and sheath it. Together they walked through the forest and headed back to her village. She only allowed him to retain his weapon because she saw something in him that was honest and good. Still, she remained on her guard not only watching him but the forest around her. For if others had come chasing after this man, surely there were more of their sort somewhere close by.

Amazons were a proud lot. They were also cautious. Most men who had stumbled into their midst became captives, slaves and sometimes, breeders. Her eyes kept straying toward him as they walked. She wasn’t sure what to make of him. She would let her mother be the judge. Prepared as she was to fight, no threats came their way as her village came into sight.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Lucian nodded at the woman's first words and again at her second, thankful that she didn't come around from behind him before as he sheathed. There was, a conversation starter of sorts, hidden beneath his cloak that was best saved for large groups so that the story behind it could be told as few times as possible. Still, he took great care with the gesture of removing his mithril blade from the body, flicking the blood from it, and moving his left hand to the sheathe to effortlessly return the blade to it's home, not wanting to alarm the woman who had only just begun to trust him. He was in no hurry to make enemies of the natives.

Once his blade was safely tucked away beneath it, Lucian secured his black cloak around him once more, and turned around, moving to lower the cowl so that his short black hair could be seen from over his deep blue eyes. His eyes occasionally darted towards his travelling companion, trying to be subtle about it, and he thought he caught a few of hers coming his way as well, but he made no mention of it as he tried to focus on the word queen and what that might hold for his possible future and/or possible lack thereof.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Zarya moved through the forest quietly. From time to time, she glanced in the stranger’s direction. She was curious but she kept her tongue still. It wasn’t a long road to travel and her village came into sight. As they stepped into the clearing, people could be seen bustling about, carrying out the every day, mundane chores one always lived with. Children ran about, laughing and playing. One child came up to Zarya, who stopped and stopped down to the child. Zarya asked about her mother, rubbed the top of the child’s head and stood up again. Glancing at the man called Lucian, she motioned to the east and strode off in that direction, stopping at the doorway.

“Our Queen is within and waiting for us. Come.”

Zarya lifted the material covering the doorway and waited for Lucian to enter. She silently wondered what her queen would make of this male. Zarya stepped in behind Lucian, letting the material fall over the doorway once more. Stepping around him she moved to the other end of the room where her queen sat and fell to one knee.

“Queen Delanira, I bring you a visitor. I found him fighting some men in our forest. Apparently, they either were out to kill him or take him captive. This is Lucian.”

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Lucian had never really been much of a woodsman. So while the signs of the village were all around them, and getting more obvious with each passing step, he didn't notice any of them. He was catching some more unusual sounds through the natural sounds of the forest around them, but that was about it for him. As such, when the two of them came around a bend in the path and stepped out into another clearing, he was truly surprised by the sight of the village spread out before him.

Yes, Lucian had known that he was being taken to a village, but with his father's scouts being unable to scout this forest, he hadn't truly known what to expect, even after seeing the woman. Her village could have been one constructed high up in the trees for all he knew. His unease with the situation was likely obvious to the woman, but there was nothing he could do about it but try to remain calm and unthreatening. That final bit was definitely made harder when one of the children that had been running and playing ran up to his escort, leading to them stopping for her to greet the child. It was one thing to be unthreatening around armed and experienced warriors, but it was another thing around noncombatants like children and the elderly, and they both knew that he was still armed.

A slow sigh of relief slipped free of Lucian's lungs when the pair of them started to move once more. When the woman stopped before the entrance of a hut and spoke, he nodded his understanding. Similarly, when she lifted the covering and waited for him to enter, he did so without complaint. Whether he was going to be more guest or captive at this point, he didn't know, but there was only one way to find out.

Lucian stepped into the center of the room and paused, giving time for his escort to let the door close behind them and kneel beside her queen. He then took the opportunity to do so himself, lowering himself from his full six foot height into a relaxed kneeling position. His right arm hung loosely at his side, even as his left hand had to catch the scabbard of his katana under his cloak and shift it to rest on his knees. Only then did he moved his right arm, bringing it around to join his left as he placed his hands palm down on his knees. Through all of this, he'd kept his cloak secured, both at his neck and at the waist, despite it making the entire process of kneeling and shifting his weapon like he had more difficult.

"Your Highness, I am prince Lucian Adelbern of Ascalon." Lucian started as he bowed his head respectfully. "I am not here on official business, but I still want to be as forthcoming as possible." He lifted his head, his deep blue gaze holding steady as he prepared himself for the questions that he knew were coming.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Queen Delanira was a regal woman from the top of her head to her toes. The Queen stood as they approached the dais.

“Zarya,” she said quietly and inclined her head in acknowledgement of her warrior.

“My Queen,” Zarya dropped to one knee in front of her sovereign before rising and standing aside slightly as Lucian came forward.

"Your Highness, I am prince Lucian Adelbern of Ascalon." Lucian started as he bowed his head respectfully. "I am not here on official business, but I still want to be as forthcoming as possible."

“Ascalon,” Delanira stopped in front of them both, “You’re some distance from home, Prince Lucian. What brings you to my jungle?”

All the while, her eyes took him in and deemed him to be…reasonable. Her head and eyes swiveled toward Zarya.

“You may leave us, Zarya.”

Zarya gave her monarch a bow and turned swiftly as well as gracefully on her toes , leaving them alone. She posted herself outside her queen’s chambers. To wait. Children raced by, laughing. They made Zarya smile. Women passed by her, nodding and smiling at her. She returned friendly smiles as she waited. Some stopped to chat. The warrioress was accommodating and friendly.



“Come sit with me, Prince Lucian.”

The Queen led the way to a comfortable sofa and sat down, looking at him expectantly.

“Why were you being chased?”

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Lucian couldn't help but chuckle when the amazon queen mentioned how far he was from home. "Quite right, your highness, and you notice every mile when you are constantly looking over your shoulder." When she followed it up by questioning him about why he came to her jungle, he mirrored the response he'd given to the woman who he now knew as Zarya. The answer was true after all. So he didn't have to worry about being caught in a lie. He was just playing it close to the chest for now.

It wasn't until Queen Delanira dismissed Zarya, invited him to sit with her, and led the way to a sofa that Lucian committed himself to telling her the full of the truth. He knew that he was going to have to ask for help at some point, and he couldn't possibly expect help from somebody he didn't trust, and similarly he couldn't expect somebody to trust him if he didn't trust them first.

"That, Your Highness, is a longer story that I think you expect." Lucian said as he lowered his hands to untie the tie at his waist. "It starts with my father getting advice from a seer, a seer that nobody else was allowed to see or hear." He then untied the tie at his neck, but still held his cloak shut for the moment. "This seer told my father that there was a way for him to secure enough power to change the world. The ritual required many things though, and chief among them was the hearts of the eldest gold, silver, copper, bronze, brass, red, black, green, blue and white dragons."

As Lucian said the word dragons, he rose to his feet and pushed his cloak off his shoulders. The green dragonscale armor he wore underneath caught and reflected every bit of light that snuck through their surroundings, each scale shining like an emerald as it moved over his flexing and relaxing muscles. He moved first to remove his katana and it's sheath from it's loop on his belt so he could lay it on the ground to show the queen that he meant no harm. He then rose to his feet and approached the queen where she sat on the sofa so that he could join her as she bade, his blue gaze finding hers in the hopes that she would know that the crazy tale he was about to tell her was in fact true.

"I was one of the thousands that were swayed by my father and his mysterious seer, and I was even chosen to lead the crusade against the eldest green. In a single day, highness, the plan was made, decided upon, and put into action. More than ten thousand men left the central city in a single day, no less than a thousand heading to each destination. So quick was the plan made, that even the greatest of the golds didn't foresee it's coming. Ten great beasts fell then, within a full cycle of the moon. Barely half the number that departed returned to the capital, but each batch bore the heart of their target. One champion was then chosen from each group to be the only one among them to bear the scales of their conquest. Ten dragons, ten hearts, and ten champions, my brother and I numbering among them."

"My father had these armors commissioned while he had the ritual prepared, and yet nobody had been allowed to see the seer." Lucian closed his eyes and shook his head. "You'd think that would have tipped somebody off, but...but. We did find out who the seer was of course, or at least what the seer was, but only after the ritual was done. The ritual didn't grant power or anything like that, but it turned a mirror into a portal a literal portal. I know how it sounds, believe me I do, especially when I tell you that nothing happened for a day, but the portal got bigger over that time until it was big enough for a demon to cross through. I know how that sounds too, but I swear it's the truth. The thing was near ten feet tall with skin as black as death, claws like knives, teeth like daggers, and blood red eyes."

Lucian paused then, shaking his head. "Some tried to run or fight back when they saw the demons, but they were tracked, dragged back, and executed. I hung around long enough to overhear my father talking with one of the demons about temples, elementals, champions, and whether they'd been found and identified. Apparently the champions of the elemental temples are the only things the demons fear. Once I found out that information, I fled in the middle of the night, and have been on the run ever since."

With a lift of his head, Lucian's blue gaze met the queen's. "I don't know much other than the elements are earth, fire, water, and wind. The rest is speculation and process of elimination. I know that most of the rest of what I would consider for earth has already been scouted by my father's men. This leads me to you, your forest, and a question." Lucian said, before taking a deep breath. "Are there any temples or temple like places in your forest, and will you allow me to go there?"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

“So what is your father hoping to achieve? Does he have nefarious plans or rather, perhaps, this seer?”

The Queen had been formulating her own thoughts even as she listened to Lucien’s story. She accepted it. There were things in this world she was ignorant about, having never encountered them. Dragons, she knew were of this world. However, there were some things better left alone nd perhaps it was so with the dragons.

“And what is your purpose in all this, young Lucien?”

Her eyes held concern and her voice, caution. The green dragon scale chest plate he wore, took her breath away and she regarded it in sorrow. An Elder had given up his life for this. Her fingers rose and stretched toward the young prince and stopped.

“May I?” She asked quietly.

Delanira did not quite understand why she wanted to touch the scales but she did. She waited for permission to touch the dragon scales touching his chest. Once given, her fingertips forged a path over the gleaming scales with a light, reverent touch. Her dark, moss colored eyes closed briefly as an image formed in her mind and she snatched back her hand, lying it in her lap. It was trembling.

“Fetch Zarya,” her tone was urgent as she made the request of one of her personal guards.

Zarya returned to the interior of the room swiftly. She had not been far away. She dropped to a knee before her queen.

“My Queen?”

Her eyes shifted momentarily to the man sitting beside her monarch before returning to her queen.

“Please show Prince Lucien to one of our guest quarters.”

Delanira turned her attention back to Lucien.

“I am not dismissing your question, Prince Lucien. We will speak together again at our evening meal, which I hope you will partake with us. For the moment, I need to absorb this information you have given me. Zarya, please return to me after to seeing to our guest’s comfort.”

The queen got to her feet and walked slowly toward the other side of the room. It was a clear dismissal. There was much to think about.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

As the queen asked her first question, Lucian could only bow his head. "The change that the demon seer spoke of, is going to come in the way of either domination or annihilation. The process will start out slow, likely with alliances, because the portal can only transport so many demons before it must recharge. Once the first demons are revealed though..." He started to shake his head slowly, lifting his head to meet her gaze once more. "That's when we're going to need a way to fight them, because anybody who doesn't submit will be destroyed.

When the topic of the conversation then switched to him, Lucian's head snapped up properly, his shoulders squaring as his back did the same. He swallowed hard, not backing down before her gaze. "I recognize and freely admit to you my part in all of this. I was ignorant of my father's true intentions, but ignorance is no excuse. I led the assault on the green dragon, struck the killing blow, and brought it's heart back for the ritual once one of our rangers had it expertly removed. What sets me apart from the other 9 champions and my father however, is that the other 9 submitted to my father's insanity, including my brother. I stayed only long enough to find out what they feared before fleeing the castle in search of it. That search led me here, which brings us to now, Your Highness."

Seeing the queen's fingers reach towards his chest and actually pull back brought a small smile to Lucian's lips, and actually made him blush and bow his head a little. It was rare to be in possession of something so rare that royalty would even consider worth their attention. "Of course, Your Highness..." He replied softly to her quietly worded question, turning to give her slightly better access to the shining emerald breastplate. He then remained still as her fingertips forged whatever path they wished, her touch almost reverent. He was a little surprised when her eyes closed for a brief moment, and then even more surprised when she snatched her hand back so suddenly. His own blue eyes flashing with concern as he saw it trembling. She made no mention of it though, and simply ordered her guard to fetch Zarya.

Lucian remained seated as Zarya returned and his fate for the evening was effectively decided. He lifted his gaze to meet the queen's dark moss-colored one, and nodded in acknowledgement of her words and then again at the invitation. He eased himself slowly to his feet, ever-conscious of the guards around the queen, but not wanting to disrespect her either. "It would be an honor and a privilege." Lucian said with a smile, placing his right fist over his heart and bowing his head until his chin touched his chest, a sign of respect among his people. He said nothing further on the subject as she moved to the other side of the room, understanding that it was likely the best he was going to get for the moment, and pushing the monarch any further at the moment would only result in losing ground rather than gaining it. Instead, he turned his attention to Zarya and his belongings on the ground where he'd been kneeling.

"My things, Zarya is it? Should I take them with me now, or...?" He gestured towards his black cloak and his katana on the floor in the middle of the structure, but made no attempt to pressure her into making a decision one way or the other. Again, any attempt to make an ally could backfire, and somebody that was neutral towards him at this point was better than somebody that didn't trust him.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"My things, Zarya is it? Should I take them with me now, or...?"

His politeness and consideration, made her smile slightly; the first she had donned since finding him. She had a tendency to keep her distance from strangers, especially male ones.

“Bring them with you, Prince Lucian.”

She turned on her heel and waited by the doorway for him to join her before stepping outside.

“I hope your talk with my Queen was….helpful.”

Her pause before the last word was because she had not been present as the queen and the prince spoke together.

“This way.”

She gestured toward a hut, much like the one they had just vacated that was across the way. Zarya held back the door covering and stood to one side to allow the prince to enter first when they had reached the hut. She stepped in after him.

The hut was spacious as well as comfy looking. A large bed took up one area of the space. Netting hung around it to give protection from the night bugs. On the opposite end was a small fire pit with wood in it to help ward off the night’s chill when the sun fell.

“I will return for you when it is the mealtime. Before then, please feel free to roam the village and speak with any who are about but do not leave the village. This is for your own safety.”

Zarya quietly left him to his own devices then as she returned to Queen Delanira’s side.

“My Queen,”

Zarya dropped to one knee in front of the queen before rising again and standing silent.

“Join me, Zarya.”

The queen’s voice was soft and low. She turned her face toward her favorite warrior, a slight smile on her lips as Zarya dropped elegantly into the empty chair beside her matriarch.

There was a silence between them for a bit before Delanira spoke again.

“There are many unknows in our jungle as you well know, Zarya and I am not yet sure of our guest’s intent although he seems, for all intents and purposes, friendly and respectful enough. His story gives me pause however. Certain things of this world should not be touched and their secrets protected from prying eyes, however, if Prince Lucian speaks true, there is a great danger lurking in the shadows. We protect a great many things here in our jungle, including the Great Winged Ones.”

At the queen’s mention of the dragons, Zarya’s breath inhaled sharply as she sat up straighter.

“Does he search for them, My Queen?”

Delanira sighed and sat back.

“If only it were that simple, My Daughter. I could have easily denied him and had you escort him from our home. There is his father and a his Seer behind all this and even now, I am not sure of his father’s intent but the seer…. The seer is up to no good, of that I am certain. Is his father being duped by this seer? Possibly. A portal was opened that allowed demons into this world. This is where I need your help again, Zarya. You know of the Elements. Each Element has its own temple. Lucian is seeking the temples and I would have you accompany him in his journey, not only to safeguard our home and our secrets but to help protect him as well. I will see to it that you have a map to finding the temples.

The Green One has already been killed, My Daughter.”

Delanira’s voice filled with sorrow and regret. Even as the queen spoke, Zarya jumped to her feet in anger. Fire filled her eyes.

“How can you expect me to assist him, My Mother?”

The queen’s hand came out to grasp Zarya’s wrist, closing around it comfortably.

“Because I ask it of you. He fell victim to this seer’s and his father’s treachery. Do not let it cloud your judgement. The important thing is that the demons are sent back to their place and the portal closed. While you are away, I will assemble our army. We will all be called upon to fight this.”

It took a moment for Zarya to calm herself but once done, she sat down again, thinking.

“How much can we trust him?”

There was the million dollar question.

“As much as we can trust anyone outside of our own until they show us their true colors, My Daughter.”

No truer words were spoken.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

The smile on Zarya's smile actually brought a small smile to Lucian's face as well. It lit up her already admittedly lovely face that much more. He was actually so caught up in her beauty in that moment that it took him a bit to realize he was staring. His deep blue eyes blinked several times as he forced himself to turn away from her and do as she instructed.

Only after Lucian had secured his weapon, wrapped himself in the cloak once more, and swiftly tied both ties on it did he move towards Zarya and nod his readiness. He then followed her out, and found himself a bit surprised when she spoke first. His surprise didn't stop him from responding though. "Yes actually, as helpful as could be expected under the circumstances." He said, turning to her and offering up another small smile as he spoke. When she spoke again and gestured towards another hut he followed beside and slightly beside her without hesitation.

When Zarya held the door covering open and stood off to one side, Lucian took the invitation and stepped inside. Though the hut had looked similar from the outside, the furnishing were understandably different, it was spacious, despite the large bed and the it's bug nets taking up the majority of the back wall. There was a small chest of drawers beside the bed, a chair in the corner, a rack to hang his cloak and weapons on next to the door, and a washing station with an empty, wide, and shallow bowl and a pitcher of water beside it. The final, and perhaps least expected thing in the hut, was the small fire pit and the pile of wood next to it.

Zarya's words drew Lucian's attention and gaze back to her. "I understand, Zarya. Thank you." He said simply, meeting her gaze and nodding his understanding. He watched her leave before turning back to the room and letting out a long and heavy sigh. His hands pulled his katana, sheath and all, from the loop that kept it in place at his side, and set it in the rack by the door. Next up came the daggers he had in each of his boots, meeting the same fate as his katana. He didn't like being without weapons, but he was a guest here, and walking around with a weapon, even a sheathed one, could cause...problems, and he had more than enough problems as it was.

With nothing to do but trust that his weapons wouldn't be messed with in the guest quarters, Lucian stepped outside and let the door covering close behind him. He then took a moment to study his surroundings so that he could find his way back to the right cabin when he was ready. Once he was as confident as he could be of his bearings, he stepped away from the hut, letting his gaze take in the unexpected normality of the village around him. He watched the adults going about the normal mundane tasks that one would expect in any other village, and the various groups of children running and playing without a care in the world.

Lucian's walk through the village was short and slow, but purposeful, ending at the spring where a few groups of women were bathing in small scattered groups. He politely averted his gaze as he walked towards the far end of the shallows. He didn't go far or stay long, just deep and long enough to scoop the perfectly cold water up to wash his face and the back of his neck. He hadn't realized how much of a hot and sweaty mess the flight and fight had made him until this very moment, but goddam did that water feel good on his overheated and sweaty skin. He wanted to do more, he really did, but removing his armor meant revealing his armor, and he really didn't want to cause any more of a stir until he absolutely had to. So when he was as good as he was going to get, he went back the way he'd come, keeping his gaze respectfully averted as he did so. He walked back through the village and returned to his guest hut, moved into the shade, and lowered himself to sit on the grass and lean against it, watching, but also politely greeting anybody that happened to walk by.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Zarya, dismissed from attending her queen for the moment, took the opportunity to dress for dinner. It didn’t take long to exchange her working garb for a dress. The hem slid just over her knee and was made from a lightweight material that clung to her warrior’s body in a few places. She had a bit of time before she had to go get their visitor. She found herself pacing the room with thoughts of the prince in her forethoughts. There was no denying he was handsome and those blue eyes of his…. They reminded her of days when the sky was at its bluest, usually when the sun came out and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky to distract from the depth of the heavens. She had to stop this! She couldn’t afford this kind of distraction. How do you tell every sense, including your heart, to stop it? Where was her will to be strong and be a warrior and not a woman? She snatched up her spear as she dashed out of her hut and strode toward their guest’s quarters.

On her way to retrieve their guest, she was stopped numerous times by the children, all begging her play with them. Laughingly, she tried to excuse herself but they wouldn’t hear of it. With another laugh, Zarya held up a hand, set aside her spear and went to join the children as they kicked the ball back and forth, trying to steal it or kick it over an imaginary line. Zarya found herself caught up in the game. There was much laughter. Finally, she had to step out of the game. She had someplace she needed to be. Gathering up her spear, she headed for the Prince’s hut. Two little girls tagged along. They hid behind Zarya as she stopped and called out to the Prince. She hadn't seen him sitting in the shade.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Lucian's day was the most peaceful and restful day he'd had since he'd fled from his father's castle. He rested in the shade and just watched the goings on of the town, literally just watched. He watched as some men, women, and older children did their daily chores. He watched as some men worked on building another hut on the other side of the path. He watched as a large group of younger children brought out a ball and started kicking it. They started with no game at all, just kicking it around, then tried to see who could keep it the longest while the rest tried to take it away, then tried to keep it away from a single child while passing between the rest of them, before finally ending up in teams and trying to kick it over an imaginary line of the other team or prevent then from kicking it over yours.

It was while the children were playing their latest game that Lucian, who had all but spaced out while watching them, saw what looked like a guardswoman start to walk past them before getting dragged into the game, not too unwillingly. It didn't take long for him to recognize that guardswoman as Zarya. He of course remembered how the child had approached them when they'd first come into the village before, and seeing her playing with them now clearly showed how popular she was with them. The sight of her beautiful face smiling and laughing as she played made Lucian smile as he watched unashamedly. It truly was a sight to behold. He was so caught up in the sight that he all but forgot everything about where he was for a moment, making him almost not hear Zarya calling his name.

Lucian rose hastily to his feet, his face flushed with embarrassment. "My apologies ladies." He said, bowing deeply to each of the young girls who he saw peeking out from behind Zarya. "And my apologies, Miss Zarya." He repeated, bowing his head once more as he reached for her hand, hoping she'd let him kiss it.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

The prince startled her. She hadn’t seen him sitting there and her cheeks reddened. She became even more self-conscious as he reached for her hand and she allowed him to. She gathered her scattered wits as her brow arched slightly, regarding him.

“And what are you apologizing for, Prince Lucien?”

Behind her she heard girlish giggles from somewhere behind her. Zarya smiled despite her discomfort. The giggles were contagious.

“I’ve come to escort you to the evening meal with our queen. Please accompany me.”

As they walked, Zarya glanced over her shoulder.

“You girls should head home for your own evening meal. I’m sure your parents are waiting for you.”

They hesitated a moment then turned and ran off. Zarya was sure he meeting with the Prince would be all over the village by the time the sun rose again.

“So, Prince Lucien, what have you done with your day?”

 

[Lucian_Devine]

It was hard for Lucian to not smile when he saw Zarya blushing, even though he was also blushing. "For making you wait and having to call out to me." He said simply enough after he kissed her hand. He then lowered their joined hands before letting hers go. "I saw you coming after all, but was too caught up watching the game that I forgot myself and my manners."

The constant giggles of the little girls eventually pulled a smile from Zarya, and the smile on her face then pulled a smile and a chuckle from Lucian. "Understood, Miss Zarya..." He said once he regained his composure. "After you..."

Zarya dismissing the giggling girls was a welcome surprise to Lucian. Their presence wasn't entirely unwanted, but the giggles did make it a bit harder for them to have a proper conversation given that the giggle fits picked up after every statement either one of them said while also being intermixed with frantic whispers into the other's ear.

Zarya's question as the pair walked actually caught Lucian off guard. "I...um...not much really..." Lucian said as a fresh flush came to his cheeks. "I took a trip to the spring to cool off a little, but that's about it. I was reluctant to do much more, lest my cloak slip and my armor become visible. That leads to questions, as I'm sure you can understand, but the average person isn't prepared for the answers to those questions..."

Lucian let his words trail off. Even as he did though, his gaze wandered to look at the village around him and the natural beauty that surrounded it. "It wasn't for lack of desire though." He said softly as his blue gaze turned back towards Zarya. "This place truly is beautiful. I would say that it wasn't what I expected, but given that all of our scouts either didn't get this far in or disappeared completely, I had no basis for comparison." There was no malice in his voice as he spoke about the failed scouting missions and dead men, or even a hint of passive aggression. In fact a small smile came to his face that she would see if she happened to look at him. "I can see why you and yours protect it so fiercely."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

“For your manners, there is no need for an apology.”

She felt so aware of him. She could still feel his lips on her skin and her blush grew deeper. It had been such a simple thing yet, it had, had a large impact on her. Curious.

“After you…”

She started to say something but the girls’ giggles did little to help, instead she started walking toward the hut where they ate every night after dismissing the girls.

“….. I was reluctant to do much more, lest my cloak slip and my armor become visible. That leads to questions, as I'm sure you can understand, but the average person isn't prepared for the answers to those questions..."

This gave her pause as she paused to look upon him and frowned.

“Must you wear your armor all the time? I can get you a chest to put it in while you are here and even get you some fresh clothing if you like.”

Zarya, though curious, would not ask the question that was burning through her mind. It was his business and no others. Well, perhaps her queen’s but Zarya was sure that between them, many things were discussed. She turned and moved forward until they stood just outside of the dining hut. She managed to give him a small smile though her eyes did not quite meet his.

“I am at your service, Prince Lucian. If there is anything I can do to make your stay in our village more comfortable, please do not hesitate to ask.”

She held the curtain of the doorway open for him to enter first.

“Please.”

And she waited. The smell of freshly cooked food filled the air of the hut. Long tables were inside with a shorter one slightly higher the rest were toward the back. It was to there that Zarya led Lucian. He would sit to the left of the queen while Zarya would usually sit to the queen’s right, however, tonight she would sit to Prince Lucian’s left. A quick glance about the room showed Zarya that people were just now starting to file in and the queen would soon join them. She stood slightly behind the prince and gestured toward the sitting cushion on the floor, indicating his place for the meal. It was only after he took his place would she take hers. Still very much aware of him, she would take her own place on the floor next to him.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Zarya's question was a fair one to be sure, and Lucian certainly didn't fault her for it. "A fair question to be sure." Lucian started, noting the frown on Zarya's face, and the simple answer is of course, "no", but this armor is both a blessing for the exceptional protection it provides, and my curse for what slaying this noble creature led to. So the number of activities that can cause me to willingly remove it can be counted on one hand, and I rarely make exceptions. It is nothing against you or your people, that I promise, for it is not theft that I fear."

When the pair reached the large dining hut, Zarya held the curtain open for him as she always had, and also offered her services if he had any requests to make his stay in the village more comfortable. Lucian saw the smile on her face, but he noted that she didn't meet his gaze anymore, and for some reason that saddened him. He barely knew her, but it hurt to know that he'd likely lost some respect in her eyes, likely because she was one of the few people he knew in the village.

At Zarya's insistence, Lucian did enter first, and the smell of freshly cooked food hit him full in the face, making his mouth water and his stomach rumble. "Thank you, Miss Zarya." He said, still trying to find her green gaze with his blue one, but unable to do so. Once inside, he stepped aside so that Zarya could enter and lead him to his place. He couldn't help but feel like the center of attention as he filed between a couple of long tables on the way to the small table at the back of the room, elevated above the rest.

Once Lucian and Zarya were behind that small table, they both paused to look around as people started to file in. He didn't know what it was, but it seemed like they were so much higher up than it looked from down there. Once they were done looking around, Zarya indicated which seat was his. "Thank you once again, Miss Zarya." He said with another smile as he lowered himself onto the cushion without hesitation.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

This time, just before she joined him on the floor, she smiled at him and lightly touched his shoulder before taking her own seat. She was about to say something when the Queen entered with a few guards walking behind her. She made her way to her seat to the right of their guest. After settling in, serving of the food began. Dishes were passed, first to the Queen then to their guest. The rows in the dining hut had filled up and the room soon became filled with laughter, talking and the smell of good, well prepared food, filled the air.

“So Prince Lucian, how was your afternoon in our village?”

The queen had turned her head to meet his eyes, smiling as she awaited his reply. Zarya’s hand hesitated in a barely noticed moment as she recalled that he had watched her play with some of the girls in the village. She was averse to recalling that moment. She scarcely knew him yet, she was feeling the tug of something she was unwilling to name, toward him. Still, she kept one ear open toward their conversation as she ate and diligently watched the room.

Zarya’s thoughts turned toward the small chat they had about his armor. Giving her head a little shake to dislodge her thoughts. Something was afoot, that much she could ascertain. Some thought rose from deep inside her. Her life was about to change and truthfully, she didn’t know if she was ready to meet it.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Lucian turned his head towards Karya's hand, both in surprise and appreciation, a smile on his face. He didn't know if it was his explanation of why he always wore his armor that changed her or something else, but he was happy for it all the same.

Queen Delanira entered shortly after that, flanked by her guards, and settled in her seat on his other side. Once she was settled, serving of the food began, and Lucian couldn't help but close his eyes and just inhale. It had been a bit since he'd had a hot meal, let alone one that smelled so good.

Lucian naturally opened his eyes and turned his head towards the queen when she asked him her question. A smile came to his face as he met her gaze and spoke. "It was good, Your Highness, really good. The weather was nice, your people have been nothing but courteous, and for the first time since I left home, I didn't have to keep looking over my shoulder."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

The Queen spoke exclusively to Prince Lucian with the brief exception of speaking with those who served them their meal. Zarya was glad for it. If she had to make conversation with the Prince, she couldn’t think of anything to talk about. Males had never been a priority in her life. The prince made her….feel things. Things she rather not dwell upon. She couldn’t even excuse herself from the dining hut as her job entailed that she walk the queen back to her private hut. Queen Delanira secured entertainment for the evening. Two of the best warriors put on a display of their prowess. Of course, this was for the prince’s benefit as Zarya knew the warriors before her and had sparred with them before. She sat quietly and ate the remainder of her meal.

As the evening wore on, the warriors had given their queen a bow and left the hut. It wasn’t long after that the queen also stood, bid the prince good-night . Zarya also stood and bent to whisper to Lucian.

“I’ll return shortly to escort you back to your hut.”

Standing upright again, she moved to stand behind the Queen and let Queen Delanira pass by before falling in behind her. After they left the dining hut, Zarya moved to walk beside her queen as they walked toward the Queen’s private hut.

“Zarya, you and Prince Lucian will be leaving us soon. I think it wisest to for just you and the Prince to travel. You will move faster and draw less attention that way….”

They stopped at the entrance to the queen’s hut.

“I don’t need to remind you to be careful, My Daughter. There are forces out there that will try to kill you both and some that will test you but there is no other I would entrust the Prince’s safety to. You go with my blessing.”

The queen stepped closer to Zarya and lightly kissed her forehead.

“I will not fail you, My Queen.”

“I know you will not, Zarya. Now go. Fetch that young man back to his hut. You both will need your sleep while you can get it.”

The queen placed her hand lightly on Zarya’s shoulder as she turned to enter her hut, letting the cloth in the doorway fall between them. Zarya took a deep breath and let it out slowly before heading back to the dining hut to escort the price back to his own quarters.

Upon returning she spied the young prince and moved to stand beside him.

“If you are ready to return to your quarters, Prince Lucian?”

They left the hut and started back they had earlier come.

“Prince Lucian, is there anything else I can do for you this evening?”

 

[Lucian_Devine]

While it was impossible for Lucian to not be aware of both the queen's guards behind them and Zarya beside him, the thing he noticed the most was the amount of small talk that the queen made with him and how effortless it was for her. She seemed genuinely happy to be talking with him, asking him questions, hearing his answers, and answering his own questions. He could never see his father engaging with an uninvited stranger like this, and as such was starting to understand why Zarya clearly respected her queen so much.

As if the pleasant conversation and utterly delicious meal weren't enough, when the two long center tables were pulled back, Lucian cast his gaze from the queen to Zarya. He didn't have to wait long before two warriors entered the tent, weapons drawn and clad in armor. His head rose and his back straightened, both signs of his obvious excitement at the display that was about to be put on. These warriors had killed his father's scouts, emissaries, and their escorts on multiple occasions, and he was very curious to see what kinds of skills they used to accomplish such feats.

Both warriors started with a single blade, each strike singing as it sliced through the air. When it wasn't dodged outright it was blocked by it's partner's blade, but each dodge got closer and closer as the movements got more and more intricate. Then, when it seemed like the next iteration would surely slice the neck of the recipient, they drew a second blade and retaliated with a flurry of strikes that the first somehow blocked with lightning quick reflexes. When it seemed like the last strike would land home though, he too drew a second blade, and that is when things truly picked up. Four blades sang and sliced through the air, searching for blood, but finding only each other. Lucian couldn't help but wonder how it would end. Would one warrior draw blood? Would they call it a draw? As if on cue, all four swords clashed, and he could see the sheen of sweat on both men as they pushed against each other until with a great heave they pushed off and all four swords were somehow sent hurtling into the air causing several onlookers. It was all part of the show of course, as the warriors were there to catch them, much to the delight and applause of the crowd.

After the warriors had bowed, first to their queen, and then to the crowd, they took their leave. Queen Delanira was next to take her leave. "Sleep well Your Highness." Lucian said, bowing his head. When he heard Zarya move, he then turned his head, and when he saw her bend down and heard her whispered words, he nodded in acknowledgement and relaxed his posture.

When Zarya, Queen Delanira, and her guards were gone, Lucian couldn't help but feel a little out of sorts sitting up at the head table all alone. A little chill even crawled up his spine despite the warm climate and even warmer temperature inside the large dining tent. Thankfully Zarya returned before he had too much time to dwell on the thoughts in his head, and he nodded once more to her words, smiling to her as he rose slowly to his feet. "Lead the way, Miss Zarya."

Lucian happily fell in line behind Zarya, more than happy to be out of the heat of the dining tent and out in the fresh air. Zarya's question, combined with the suddenly distracting feeling of a bead of sweat making it's way down the back of his neck had him speaking out before he could stop himself. "There is one thing..." He tried to bite his lip to stop himself, but it was too late now, and given that it was already past the point of no return, he figured that he may as well go for it. "I know it's asking a lot, but would it be possible to arrange some private time in the spring, or at least as private as possible? I know it sounds silly, believe me I do, but I can show you if it would put your mind at ease."

Lucian's hands moved to the ties on his cloak to show how serious he was. He of course didn't plan to reveal his armor out in the open, but he could undo the ties as a show of good faith and still keep the cloak closed by hand until they got somewhere private.